SSS Transmigration: I Can Extract And Evolve Overpowered Shadows-Chapter 41: The Path Toward Witchcraft (5)

’So he’s really Noctis, huh?’

Truth be told, Hinata still couldn’t believe that he was meeting the god of the Dragonforge family, even though the man had said things no one else would know.

According to Tamara, Noctis was meant to be long dead, killed by the members of the Vanir clan and the seven gods.

Yes, the man in front of him had said he was a ghost, but Hinata doubted the gods could be sloppy enough to let such a foe escape and remain in spirit form.

Absalom stared at Hinata’s flinching eyes, then smiled softly. "So you’re my successor, huh? Never did I expect the one who will absorb my core would be a tiny human — or should I call you a lost hero."

Hinata didn’t divert his gaze from Absalom. When he spoke, his voice was calm, like he was addressing someone beneath him. "It seems you actually are Noctis."

Absalom released his chin and turned away. "As my successor, shouldn’t you drop to your knees and kowtow three times?"

"I don’t think that’s necessary, though I’m curious," Hinata said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "How are you still alive?"

Absalom turned to him with a tilted head. He raised his hand high, pointed at Hinata, then back at himself. "I’m dead, though."

Hinata shut his eyes tight, a low sigh escaping his lips. "I meant how you can still exist in the mortal realm."

Absalom tilted his head again. "I don’t exist in the mortal realm, though... I’m dead."

Hinata’s gaze darkened. "I meant how I can see you. As far as I know, the gods killed you — you shouldn’t exist."

Absalom narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying, successor? This old man is dead."

Hinata clenched his jaw, his hands flying out of his pockets. "Can you just answer the damn question!"

Absalom immediately burst into laughter. "Hahahaha, you’re so easy, kid! It’s been so long since I’ve talked to anyone, and the heavens gave me such an easy target."

Hinata’s fists squeezed tight, every muscle in his body straining as he held himself back from attacking the man. "Please, master," he said, voice trembling with barely restrained anger. "Could you answer the question?"

Absalom’s face turned serious, which made Hinata’s expression settle. Then he pursed his lips as though fighting back a laugh. A moment later another round of laughter exploded from him. "I don’t know, you fool! Hahaha — you think if I knew, I would be here? What a dumbass!"

Hinata stepped forward as if to strike, but halted halfway. Letting out a quiet sigh, he turned around and began walking out of the narrow canyon.

Absalom’s face went pale. "Wait, kid!" he called out, rushing toward Hinata, only to slam into a barrier.

Hinata turned back, then glanced to his side where a set of runes had been carved into a large rock. He turned back to Absalom — the man who had worn a smug expression moments ago was now drenched in sweat.

Over the span of a few seconds Hinata’s face cycled through several expressions: a slight frown at Absalom’s change in demeanor, narrowed eyes as they drifted to the runes, then a slow smile that stretched into an unhinged grin.

"Oh~ so you can’t escape?~"

"Wait a second, kid— don’t do anything rash," Absalom said, struggling to hold onto at least an ounce of composure.

Hinata’s expression softened. Mana flared wide around him as pure lightning crackled into existence around his fist.

"You won’t dare."

Hinata smiled softly, his eyes narrowing into a thin crescent. With terrifying speed he shot his fist forward, connecting it with Absalom’s face straight through the barrier.

Before the ghost could react, Hinata withdrew his hand.

Veins bulged across Absalom’s face as he thrust his fist out, clutching his own wrist with his free hand like a frail old woman. "How dare you punch the great Noctis! If you’re a true warrior, step inside the barrier!"

Hinata exhaled with refined indifference. "I prefer not to soil my hands with uncultured barbarians." He raised a finger to his lips like a young noble about to share delicious gossip. "And what was that about ’great’ — didn’t you get your ass handed to you by a bunch of nobodies~"

Absalom’s eyes went bloodshot. "Y—You brat!" He slammed repeatedly against the barrier, but his attacks were useless. Hinata stood unbothered on the other side, yawning each time a blow landed.

After a long, satisfied moment, Hinata dipped his head in a bow. "Sorry for making you angry, oh great Noctis."

By that point Absalom was on the verge of erupting, but he held himself back. "Are you ready to accept your punishment?"

Hinata shook his head. "No," he said calmly. "I wanted to start with a simple introduction."

He raised his head slowly from his bowed position. "I am Nishikawa Hinata, a lost hero summoned by the goddess of love. I am also the inheritor of the shadow core, the current master of the Dragonforge family, and your son-in-law. It’s a pleasure meeting you."

Absalom’s eyes widened as he stumbled back several steps. "What?! You’re that bitch’s summon? My inheritor? The master of my family? And what in the hell do you mean by my son-in-law?!"

Hinata scratched his cheek innocently. "Well, your daughter forced me to engage her after she raped me, then I helped their family and needed her for something."

"What did you just say, you bastard?! Why would my daughter do any of that?"

Hinata tilted his head without a care in the world, then pointed at his own face. "I’m gorgeous, and really big."

Absalom’s cheeks flushed red. "What?! How can you say something so crude with a straight face, you brat!" He pressed both hands to his temples and rubbed them hard. "What has my family gotten themselves into? Do they have a fetish for psychopathic leaders?"

He shifted his gaze to Hinata, who had clearly not heard a word. "Damn it!" he suddenly bellowed, yanking at his own hair. "If I wasn’t dead, none of this would have happened, and my baby wouldn’t have become so crude!"

Hinata let out a small chuckle at Absalom’s outburst.

"Why did you laugh? Are you mocking this great venerable?"

Hinata shook his head and hands with a smile. "I just wasn’t expecting the great Noctis to act like this."

Absalom sighed. "I wasn’t actually like this before I got killed."

"So you were a badass?"

"No. I was worse."

Hinata nodded slowly. ’Now I kind of sympathize with the gods if they had to deal with a worse version of him.’

Absalom mulled over Hinata’s words, then nodded to himself. "Alright, little brat — I think I understand the situation." He raised his hand and jerked his thumb at his own chest, grinning wide. "From now on, this great one shall be your master and teach you the way to reach the outer zone."